سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 21
وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And he (Iblîs - Satan) had no authority over them, - except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Hafiz (Watchful) over everything. (All-Knower of everything i.e. He keeps record of every person as regards deeds, and then He will reward them accordingly).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
was
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
عَلَيْهِم
ʿalayhim
over them
مِّن
min
any
سُلْطَـٰنٍ
sul'ṭānin
authority
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِنَعْلَمَ
linaʿlama
that We (might) make evident
مَن
man
who
يُؤْمِنُ
yu'minu
believes
بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
bil-ākhirati
in the Hereafter
مِمَّنْ
mimman
from (one) who
هُوَ
huwa
[he]
مِنْهَا
min'hā
about it
فِى
fī
(is) in
شَكٍّۢ ۗ
shakkin
doubt
وَرَبُّكَ
warabbuka
And your Lord
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كُلِّ
kulli
all
شَىْءٍ
shayin
things
حَفِيظٌۭ
ḥafīẓun
(is) a Guardian
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 21) ➊ { وَ مَا كَانَ لَهٗ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّنْ سُلْطٰنٍ:} That is, Iblis did not have the power to forcibly drag anyone who wished to obey Allah onto the path of disobedience by force or coercion. He only had the ability to cast a whisper into the human heart, to deceive by showing alluring prospects, and to present sins as attractive before them.
➋ { اِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يُّؤْمِنُ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ :} That is, the wisdom behind Allah granting Iblis this authority was so that it would become clear who truly believes in the Hereafter and who is doubtful about it, and so that everyone may see who obeys the word of the Most Merciful and who follows Satan, who is destined for Paradise and who for Hell.
➌ {مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِيْ شَكٍّ :} It is evident that doubting the Hereafter is also disbelief, and the real cause of the ingratitude and rebellion of the people of Saba was their lack of belief in the Hereafter. The Noble Qur’an has clarified at many places that only the correct creed can keep a person steadfast on the right path, and belief in the Hereafter is the very thing that obliges a person to walk the straight path.
➍ { وَ رَبُّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيْظٌ :} Your Lord is fully watchful and vigilant over everything; nothing is outside His protection and supervision, nor can Satan overpower Him to mislead anyone. He Himself, according to His wisdom, has granted Satan the ability to cast whispers into human hearts as a test and to establish proof against them.
➋ { اِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يُّؤْمِنُ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ :} That is, the wisdom behind Allah granting Iblis this authority was so that it would become clear who truly believes in the Hereafter and who is doubtful about it, and so that everyone may see who obeys the word of the Most Merciful and who follows Satan, who is destined for Paradise and who for Hell.
➌ {مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِيْ شَكٍّ :} It is evident that doubting the Hereafter is also disbelief, and the real cause of the ingratitude and rebellion of the people of Saba was their lack of belief in the Hereafter. The Noble Qur’an has clarified at many places that only the correct creed can keep a person steadfast on the right path, and belief in the Hereafter is the very thing that obliges a person to walk the straight path.
➍ { وَ رَبُّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيْظٌ :} Your Lord is fully watchful and vigilant over everything; nothing is outside His protection and supervision, nor can Satan overpower Him to mislead anyone. He Himself, according to His wisdom, has granted Satan the ability to cast whispers into human hearts as a test and to establish proof against them.
